Randall jury clears operator

A Randall County grand jury has cleared Lonnie Shaw, owner of a Canyon assisted living center, of any wrongdoing in the death of one of the facility’s residents last summer.

The Randall County Criminal District Attorney’s Office recommended Wednesday the grand jury consider charging Shaw with injury to an elderly or disabled individual by omission, a second-degree felony, Assistant District Attorney Richard Gore said.

Another man living at Sky West Assisted Living Center by Shaw, 2621 12th Ave., hit Bill West, 81, in the face five times July 29, investigators said. West remained in the facility about a day and a half before his family realized he was badly injured and asked that he be hospitalized, said his daughter, Terry Wester.

West died at a hospital 20 days later, investigators said. A grand jury cleared the other resident of wrongdoing in November.

“We’ve tried to be respectful of the family,” Shaw said. “That’s what we’ve tried to do.”

Gore said Shaw held a “duty to provide care.”

“The connection between his failure to get medical care and the injury to Mr. West was pretty thin. There’s no question Mr. West suffered injuries,” Gore said.

“There is a question if the injuries were caused by the delays in seeking medical help.”

Following two investigations into the case, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services cited Sky West in the incident.

After the investigations, Shaw provided the agencies a plan to provide policies to prevent future incidents.

“Our mission has been to provide a safe, clean, cheerful and loving environment for our residents,” Shaw said. “Anything that came up in the investigation we’ve tried to correct.”

Prosecutors don’t plan to pursue any further charges against the facility, Gore said Thursday.